To the students: an excuse for horny young teenagers to get together for a night of drinking, fornication and promiscuity, how romantic!

To business: a corporate-controlled/ promoted high school "institution" that makes the dress shops, hairdressers, flowershops, limo companies, suit rental places, etc more wealthy.

To the students who don't get to go: a lifelong regret, an occasion that fat chicks can not get a date for.Makes more people unhappy than any one other thing in highschool...

I borrowed Dad's car, then spent $400 on renting a suit, buying flowers, tickets to the prom, some liquor and a locket on a chain for her. Oh, and condoms. She bought a dress, got her hair and 20 nails done, bought shoes,tear-off underwear,a purse, and got a horrendous period an hour before midnight.
So she gave me a blowjob just like any other date, and she's still a virgin.

The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt

An event that stupid people think is the "pinnacle of you high school career". Really it's just a way for guys to pay $300 and girls $150 to bone each other. You prance around like an idiot to crappy rap music. Some people feel like they missed out on something important because they skipped prom. Those people are retards.

Douche Bag:"Dude, you goin to Prom next Saturday"
Pro:"Fuck no shits a waste of money"
Douche Bag:"ha you just couldn't get a date"
Pro:"Well I'll be fucking your mom on saturday does that count as a date?"

The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt

A "ball" or "dance" that is formal and most commonly held during the junior and senior years of high school. A popular and anticipated event to the lives of many students, where tradition goes a date is taken, dresses are bought and tuxedoes and limos are usually rented, complete with expensive preparation that include trips to salons, boutiques, hotels, etc. A pre-photo shoot and dinner are common amongst large parties or regular dates. Held usually in a school gymnasium, or if the student government has some money, a hotel, country club, or even a boat. Hip-hop or mainstream music is usually played, complete with dancing or socializing in a decorated or themed setting. A prom king or queen that have been elected days before the prom are crowned. Proms usually end with an after party or dinner.